Disabling a contactless bank card

[Sometimesonly]

Has anyone actually done this? My bank is forcing me to have a contactless card and says it is not possible NOT to have contactless. There are videos showing how to do this online but they are a bit brutal! Just wondered if anyone had done this?

[pastabest]

What is your concern with contactless?

I don't use my physical cards anymore I always pay using my phone (contactless) which will only let me pay once it has recognised my fingerprint. More secure than a contactless card if that is your worry?

[Sexnotgender]

Why do you want to?

[dementedpixie]

Is there a particular reason you don't want one

[Sometimesonly]

My worry is that I will leave it somewhere (probably at the supermarket self service till as I have done this before! ) and it will be used by someone. My bank has said there is no limit to the amount of times that it can be used for contactless transactions under 25 euros and that I will be liable for any transactions before I block the card. Seeing as I might not even realise that I no longer have the card (last time I realised after a day had passed!) this is not a risk I want to take.

[OrangeIsTheNewTwat]

Our bank (Barclays if you're interested) give us the choice of having a contactless or old style payment card. I have contactless for my personal account but old style for the joint account as we don't actually spend from it, it's just for bills.

[pinpinbin]

Yes stop using the card and use your phone with you bio security on it instead (Apple pay, Google pay, samsung pay etc)

[FamilyOfAliens]

DD has a contactless card (Co-op bank).

She’s had it since she was a student because she said if she’s too drunk to key in her PIN number, she didn’t think she should carry on drinking!

[Sometimesonly]

I am in Italy (sorry should have said!) and paying by phone isn't really widespread enough to use that - and the bank said it's contactless or nothing!

[Sirzy]

@pastabest

What is your concern with contactless?

I don't use my physical cards anymore I always pay using my phone (contactless) which will only let me pay once it has recognised my fingerprint. More secure than a contactless card if that is your worry?

This is what I do.

I was very cynical about contactless and even more so about Apple Pay but now I love the Apple Pay makes it so much easier at the moment too to only need my phone with me

[pastabest]

I thought most contactless cards forced the user to put in a PIN number after (3?) transactions if used in a short space of time.

If it's just a security concern then would my phone suggestion work for you instead?

[Dollywilde]

When I was with NatWest I dropped my card when on a night out and someone picked it up and put through 4 transactions of just less than £30, I didn’t realise until the next morning. NatWest immediately refunded it conditional on them investigating and if it was thought I’d lied I could be done for fraud.

As a pp through, I now pay almost exclusively with Apple Pay so the risk of leaving my cards anywhere is pretty minimal.

[dementedpixie]

In the UK you are asked to use your pin after a set amount of contactless transactions. Is it not the same there?

[FippertyGibbett]

Ive got contactless cards from two different banks.
I got them after having two lots of money taken from my account at the same time from the same large coffee chain 🟩

[Sexnotgender]

@Sometimesonly

My worry is that I will leave it somewhere (probably at the supermarket self service till as I have done this before! ) and it will be used by someone. My bank has said there is no limit to the amount of times that it can be used for contactless transactions under 25 euros and that I will be liable for any transactions before I block the card. Seeing as I might not even realise that I no longer have the card (last time I realised after a day had passed!) this is not a risk I want to take.

There should be a wallet limit. Unlimited low value transactions isn’t a thing.

[Sometimesonly]

If it's just a security concern then would my phone suggestion work for you instead?
No, unfortunately most places don't accept phone payments where I am.

I thought most contactless cards forced the user to put in a PIN number after (3?) transactions if used in a short space of time.
I thought this too but my bank has said that it is limitless if each transaction is under 25 euros AND I would likely be liable for them! Lose-lose for the customer basically. Oh and they are charging me a monthly fee for the bank card I don't want.....sigh....

[dementedpixie]

But the phone uses the same reader as the bank card would.

[Moondust001]

A quick google tells you how to do it, but I wouldn't recommend it as it involves physically damaging the card - and many places wouldn't accept a damaged card.

[dementedpixie]

Which bank is it?

[Suzi888]

My mum is with Lloyds and she doesn’t have contactless, she has to use her pin. It’s a brand new card.

[Sometimesonly]

There should be a wallet limit. Unlimited low value transactions isn’t a thing.

I haven't seen the actual contract yet but two bank staff members have told me it is a thing. I am not in the UK though.

[pastabest]

I'm surprised that anywhere accepting contactless doesn't also accept phone payments, it's the same reader!

[AvoidingRealHumans]

I know that here you can request a non contactless card as my stepdad has done that so it is technically possibly but a lot of us here probably won't know about banks in Italy, maybe they don't make non contactless cards anymore?

I have an account with Starling and anytime a transaction is made I get a notification on my phone so that would be handy for any unauthorised transactions if your bank does that as you could immediately block the card. My main account is Natwest and they don't do this so unless I noticed my card missing I wouldn't know about any spending on it and thats worrying.

[Sometimesonly]

I'm surprised that anywhere accepting contactless doesn't also accept phone payments, it's the same reader!

It's more a question of some places ONLY accepting non-contactless, non-phone payments as they don't have up to date technology - but I will look into it more closely.

[Sometimesonly]

maybe they don't make non contactless cards anymore

My bank no longer gives you that option. My old non-contactless card is about to expire and I am not allowed a similar one.

[opinionatedfreak]

Where are you in Italy?

I use Apple Pay all the time including in Rome & Florence earlier in they year pre-pandemic.

Don’t remember having to get the actual card out at all.